BOOK REVIEW

Author: George, Elizabeth

Title: Careless in red

In ten words or less: Lynley finds a body; reluctantly joins investigation

Review: Grieving over his pregnant wife's violent and senseless death. Thomas Lynley takes a solitary walk along the Cornish coast and discovers a body. When he approaches a nearby cottage to use a phone he meets Daidre Trahair, a local vet. When she lies to local police about not knowing the identity of the victim, Lynley wonders what she is hiding. And Lynley is looked upon with suspicion by the local cops--he is unshaven, unwashed, and without identification.

The local detective drafts Lynley to help with inquiries, and Barbara Havers is sent from New Scotland Yard to assist, and to see how Lynley is holding up.

Nicely complicated characters keep the reader interested, although here's hoping for more Lynley/Havers interaction in the next book in the series. And please let there be a next one. Author George has not run out of steam yet.

Why bother? For readers of the series--Lynley and Havers come together again to solve the mysterious death of a young man. It's a welcome return. Readers looking for a gritty story, with plot twists and turns, and well-developed characters need look no further. If you like Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse series, try these.